Method of forming slotted screen pipe



Dec. 13, 1927.

1,652,208 J. H. M EvoY, JR 7 I METHOD OF FORMING SLOTTED SCREEN PIPE Filed Feb 27, 1926 Patented Dec. 13, 1927. I i i' v V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH 1 1. McEVOY, an, on noosrou, TEXAS.

METHOD or FORMING snorrrnn scnnnn PIPE. Application filed February 27, 1926. Serial No. 91,016.

My invention relates to the construction manner in which the invention may be apof screen pipe, such as is ordinarily used In plied to any desired strainer slot. In Fig. deep well operations, for filtering the fluid 1 a strainer pipe 1 is shown as havingopen coming into the well. It pertains particings 2 formed therein, said openings having 60 6 ularly to pipe having slotted openings therean inner side thereof of greater width than in through which the fluid finds entrance to the outer side. These openings 'may be of the pipe from the well, the invention 0011- the form shown in Fig. 2 at the-upper end sisting particularly in the manner in which thereof and in this particular form the the slots are formed in the pipe. In the openings are out of practically uniform 10 construction of screen pipe, various widths cross-sectional area from the enter to the of straining opening. are necessary, each inner side of the pipe, the outer opening bewidth of slot being adapted for a particular ing longer and narrower than is the opening kind of formation, the width of the slot on the inner side of the pipe, which is shortdepending upon the size of the particles er but wider. The invention is, however, which are to be filtered out of the fluid. independent of the original shape of the It is an object of my invention to provide opening. Taking a pipe having openings a method of slotting pipe wherein the openthus formed therein, either with a cutting ings may be most economically and effectivetool, such as a milling cutter or by means of ly formed so as to obtain the desired size a blow-torch, or other similar means, I nar- 7 of opening. It is desired that the slots may row the outer end of the opening by the use originally be constructed of uniform, or of a punch 3, or similar tool, as is shown in practically uniform, widthsin any desired Fig. 1. In the tool 3'I have shown a bluntmanner, and the slotted opening through en ed tool having a narrow fin 4 on the which the fluid enters be thereafter reduced forward end. The fin is adapted to fit 0 to the size desiredby my improved methods longitudinally into the opening and is of of operation. I the desired width of the slot which is to be Referring to the drawing herewith, formed. The tool'is hammered against the wherein I have illustrated means and methpipe so as to bring the lower shoulders 5 of ods by which the slots may be formed, Fig. the tool against the pipe alongvthe edges of 1 is a broken transverse section through a the opening 2. The effect will be to drive piece of screen pipe, illustrating the formathe walls of the opening .inwardly so that tion of the constricted filtermg passage they will tend to meet along the full length therein; Fig. 2 is a side view, artly in-eleof the slot. The fin 4 upon the tool will vation and partly in longitu inal section... prevent the edges from meetin so as to 35 illustrating the openings in various stages of leave the slot of the same widt as is the completion; Fig. 3 is a broken transverse fin 4 on the tool. When completed, the section of pipe, illustrating the slotted openopening will be as shown at 6 in Fig. 1. ing as originally formed; Fig. 4 is a longi- There will be a depression in the outer wall tudinal section showing the same slot: Fig. of the pipe the width of the tool 3. The in- 4 5 is a longitudinal section similar to Fig. 4, ner wall of the opening will be swaged inillustrating a slightly different form of slot; wardly toward the slot 6 previously men- Figs. 6, 7, and 8 illustrate the slots shown in tioned. This result is shown more in detail Figs. 3, 4, and 5 respectively after the filterin Figs. 3 and 6.

ing opening has been constricted to its In Figs. 9 and 10 is shown a modification 10o proper width; Fig. 9 is a transverse section of the method Just described. The tool 3' in through a strainer pipe, illustrating afv riathis modification has a blunt point 7 having tion of the first operation in forming the no fin or other projection thereon. It is filtering opening; and Fig. 10 is a similar used to upset the walls of the openings 2 so section showing the cutting of the slot to its as to drive them inwardly to "contact with desired width. Like numerals of'reference. each otherv centrally of the opening, the ef are employed-to designate like parts in all feet thus being to entirely close said opening the views. for its full length. I then contemplate tel;-

In illustrating my invention, I have ing a cutting tool, .such as 1s shown at 1n shown the application thereof tostrainer Fig. 10, and cutting the slot 9 of the desired H0 55 pipe having various forms of openings width. The v arymg of the w dth of the slot therein, the object be g to llustrate the may be obtained by employing cutters 8 of,

different thicknesses. This method is an ad'- vance over attempting to cut the slot through the full thickness of the pipe with a milling cutter 8, from the fact that the cutters will not be materially endangered by cutting a thin thickness of metal, whereas cutters of this kind cannot in practical operation cut entirely through the walls of a heavy screen pipe. If therefore the openings 2 are first formed and then the outer edges of the openings are closed to form a thin outer wall to the opening, this thin wall may be slotted down the line of contact between the two upset edges with ease and facility with ordinary types of cutters and the operation will be simple and economical.

It will be obvious that this method of forming the slotted opening in the screen may be employed as shown in the various figures on any type of slot independently of Whether the walls of said slot converge or diverge from the outer side to the inner side,

or whether the end ,Walls are parallel as shown in Fig. 5. I make no claim to the particular contour or shape of the original openings. My invention resides, therefore, in the methodtof closing the outer end of the opening and forming in the closed end a slot of the desired width.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

A method of forming slotted openings in strainer pipe, comprising cutting openings in said pipe each of a width greater than that of the desired slot, upsetting the sides of said opening to bring said sides together at the outer side of the pipe, and then cutting the wall formed by the upset sides to the desired width and length.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature this 19th day of February, A. D

JOSEPH HENRY MoEVOY, JR. 

